Bryan-from my own experience I recently had damage to the fuselage aft cowl but forward of the spare due to the aircraft slipping off jacks while undergoing some maintenance work. The damage could only be repaired by removing the header tank. If it were permanently fixed I may have had to write the aircraft off.

Further if you do not currently have the forward hinge canopy and wish to retro fit it I believe this would require removal of the header tank.

There are many Lancairs fitted with removable tanks and no fitting issues with cowls.

Regards

Gerard



> Bryan Wullner <sbej@verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Anyone have good reasoning as to why I shouldn't permanantly bond my
> header tank on?  I tried the hinge method and the fit with the cowling
> was terrible so I had to take the entire thing apart today. Now Im
> thinking it may be a whole lot easier to install and finish by bonding
> the tank on for good.  My brake systems are all easily accesible even
> with it on. I cant think of any reason I would ever remove it after the
> thing is flying. Anybody have a good argument against this?
>
> Thanks.